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Hanging by a Moment Part Five

RAW is WAR – Week Four

'Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I was wrong.' Stephanie was greeted with a mixture of boos and cheers. 'Chris Jericho isn't totally as horrible as I had first thought.' This time, definite cheers.

Chris couldn't stop the pleased grin from appearing on his face as he watched her out in the ring.

'But, first let me get say this…I am still a very happily married woman!' she said loudly, proudly holding up her wedding ring. This time, definite boos.

Chris lost a little of his smile.

'What I did want to do out here tonight is thank Chris Jericho publicly. Despite the odds having been stacked severely against us on SmackDown, he still managed to pin Bubba Dudley!' Loud cheers. 'And, on a personal note…' A shy smile actually came over Stephanie's face. 'And, on a more personal note, Y2J-'

She stopped suddenly when the Dudleyz entrance music started, interrupting her. Chris stood up, more than ready to race out there and help her.

The camera angle switched to the top of the ramp, and out came a very angry looking Orion Dudley. A chorus of boos, but she ignored them, staring intently at Stephanie in the ring.

'Listen here you little slut,' she snarled, pointing a finger. More boos, and Orion stopped for a moment. 'As for you hypocrites, don't even start! If I remember correctly, you all loved calling her one!' Still more boos, but even Chris knew the truth in her statement.

Orion turned her attention back to Stephanie. 'You, little Princess, are extremely lucky! This Sunday at Fully Loaded you won't have any Jericho to save you ass! Because, like it or not, I am going to be putting it through a table, and believe me, I've learnt my table manners!'

*

Chris marched directly towards Regal's Commissioner office, and was met by a furious Stephanie at the door. He let her throw the door open, and grimaced at the sight of the camera man standing nearby.

'What the hell was all that about?' she demanded, glaring down at Regal who was sitting and sipping tea.

Regal actually grinned, slowly putting down his cup. 'Mrs McMahon-Helmsley, please, control yourself.'

Chris crossed his arms across his chest, keeping himself from striking out the English asshole. He knew that she had no chance against Orion, and especially in the First Ever Women's Table Match. Not only was Stephanie not a properly trained wrestler, but Orion was considerably heavier and stronger than her. There was no way she could ever put the Orion through a damned table!

'Who made the match, Regal?' Stephanie asked.

'I think that is the least of your worries, but I did indeed allow it,' Regal replied, sounding very smug. 'Seeing as how you and Jericho managed to win your match, I thought it only best to showcase your talents. And what better time that at this Sunday's Fully Loaded?'

Chris knew that the only thing that was fully loaded at the moment was Regal, with horsecrap.

*

Chris returned to his locker room feeling extremely dejected, and was met by the grinning faces of the Hardyz and Benoit. He looked at them suspiciously. 'What?'

Jeff, his hair a bright green this week, was grinning at him the most. 'The fallee has become the fallen.'

His confusion grew, unsure of what the younger man was talking about, and especially after Matthew and Benoit burst out laughing. 'What?'

'Admit it, Jericho,' Benoit said. 'You're falling for the fair maiden. If you haven't already.'

Stephanie.

But Chris quickly waved away the ridiculous idea. 'I don't think so! She's the one who's interested in me, remember?'

'You in her,' Matthew clarified.

He glared at the other man for a moment. He wasn't liking the direction in which the conversation was headed. 'Enough already, okay? This is getting old, fast.'

'Oh, come on,' Jeff cajoled. 'Y2J and Y2Steph? You two are like the ultimate Y2Team. So, just admit that you're in love with her, and we'll leave you alone.'

Matthew grinned. 'Besides, who was it that started this whole 'I think you just wanted Y2J' business in the first place?'

'You guys want me to lie to you?'

'Well, why not? You're obviously lying to yourself.' Benoit, perceptive as usual.

Chris sighed, shaking his head. 'Honestly, you guys… So, okay, I do find her extremely attractive without all the trashy make-up and clothing. And when she's not being her usual bitchy self, she can be quite charming. And, yeah, so she has a really nice smile, and she's amazingly-'

He stopped suddenly, realising exactly what was coming out of his mouth. If possible, his friends' grins just got even wider. A sinking, yet pleasant, feeling came over him.

He was in love with Stephanie.

Jeff nodded knowingly. 'Man, you are so in love with Stephanie.'

*

Chris had avoided Stephanie as much as he could the rest of the night, which hadn't been too difficult considering that he was having problems of his own. Or so he tried to tell himself. Ever since King of the Ring, he had known that it was coming.

Benoit had gone out and had demanded what was rightfully his. A shot at the WWF Championship Belt at Sunday's Fully Loaded. Although the two of them had talked about it before, Chris had been surprised to realise that Benoit wanted his chance so quickly. But he didn't blame him. So, he had gone out and 'granted' him the match.

And Regal, hoping for some dissent between the former Tag Team Champions, had pitted them against each other in a six-man tag team match for the night's main event. And he and the Hardyz had lost to Benoit and Edge and Christian. Matthew and Jeff had told him it wasn't his fault, though he knew differently. He had been too distracted with all these thoughts and images of Stephanie in his mind, which just refused to go away ever since the 'revelation' earlier in the night.

The light hand on his shoulder made him jump, and he whirled around quickly, grabbing the hand roughly. Stephanie! He quickly dropped her hand. 'What are you doing here?'

She smiled a little nervously at him. 'I wasn't too sure if I was welcome. I did knock, but you didn't hear me.'

Chris's heart was racing so fast he was surprised it didn't just zoom out of his chest. 'Yeah, sorry. I was…' He couldn't very well tell her that he was thinking about her. 'Uh, just thinking.'

'Yeah, sorry about your match.' She sounded as if she meant it too. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking?

He shrugged, turning his attention back to packing his bag. 'It happens. What can I do for you?' He suddenly thought of the old Simpsons episode, where Homer was stuck in an elevator with Mindy, the new girl at work. And he chanted the same incantation in his head.

'Think unsexy thoughts. Think unsexy thought. Think unsexy thoughts.'

'Well, considering how we seemed to have suddenly become…well, partners of sorts, I was hoping you wouldn't mind me stopping by.'

He had to keep calm and cool. Give nothing away. Like everything was just…fine. 'It's a free country, Princess. You can do whatever you want.' Crap. He had sounded too indifferent.

Stephanie sighed heavily. 'Fine. I just wanted to say thank you, for beating up on Regal like that in his office earlier. You didn't have to.'

Chris hesitated for a moment, not saying anything. However, when he finally found the courage to face her again, she was already gone.

*

SmackDown

Chris listened in dread as Regal, with a self satisfied look on his face, announced that Stephanie was to wrestle in a triple threat match that night against Jacqueline and Ivory, the two most experienced women wrestlers on the roster.

He loudly cursed Regal for making the match, Vince McMahon for not doing anything to prevent it, Jacky and Ivory for agreeing to the unfair match, and himself for caring so much about Stephanie.

'So, it is true,' a female voice interrupted, sounding amused.

Chris whirled around, narrowing his eyes at Lita. 'What is true?'

'About you being in love with Steph.'

He turned back to the TV screen, a Christian vs Raven match for the European Title. 'Tell your boyfriend he has a big mouth.'

Lita laughed. 'I think it's cute! Ever since Steph became less 'I am the dominant female', she's actually kind of cool to hang with. And seriously, you two look really good together.'

Chris stared at her in amazement. 'You've been hanging with Stephanie McMahon?'

'My, you do like saying her name, don't you?' she teased. 'And do my ears deceive me? Did you just skip out the 'Helmsley' part?'

He scowled. 'Go ahead, make fun of me all you want. It's not like I didn't have enough of that from everyone else already.'

'Come on, live a little,' she told him, still not losing her amused grin. 'Just go for it.'

'She's married, Lita,' Chris reminded her. 'Or have you forgotten, having gotten all buddy-buddy with her?'

'Whatever. But I have a feeling that your feelings aren't quite that unrequited.'

*

Chris watched Stephanie's match very closely, looking out for any signs of major trouble. So far Ivory and Jacky were being fair-ish enough, and weren't too concerned with beating on Stephanie too much, who held her own impressively enough against the two women.

That was until Regal, who had invited himself to the commentator's table, decided to take it upon himself to interfere. He grabbed the referee, screaming into his face about something while motioning for Ivory to do something. Ivory then knocked Jacky over the top rope, and went after Stephanie.

'What is the meaning of this?' JR demanded, actually sounding outraged. 'The other members of RTC are coming out!'

The camera suddenly panned towards the ramp, where Val, Goodfather, Bull and Steven Richards were running down to join Ivory in the ring. Regal had also managed to pull the referee out of the ring, and was joining RTC as they slowly cornered Stephanie. It had all been a setup.

Without thinking, Chris ran as fast as he could towards the ring, caring only about Stephanie's safely. He was met with deafening cheers as he got out from behind the curtain, but he ignored them. His main concern was Stephanie, who he could see was being kicked on by Ivory, Regal and Richards.

Damnit, this couldn't be happening!

Chris slid into the ring, and was instantly attacked by the male members of RTC and Regal, but he fought them off as much as he could. He felt his fist connect against someone's nose, and a feeling of satisfaction came over him when he realised that he'd broken it.

But there was too many of them, and as hard as he tried to reach Stephanie, he couldn't get past RTC and Regal. That was when he heard the crowd roar once again with wild cheers, and out of the corner of his eye, Chris noticed Benoit slide into the ring and go straight for Regal, whom he tossed right over the top rope.

Finally, some much needed help. Finally, an opening to get to Stephanie…

Chris managed to push and shove his way towards Ivory, yanking her roughly away from Stephanie. He leaned down beside her curled body, and was horrified to see some red stuff oozing down from her forehead. Blood.

'Damn! Steph, can you hear me?'

Stephanie reached up and wiped at her forehead, smearing the blood down her temple and cheek. She looked at her hand, and a look of shock came over her face. 'Oh…my…god…'

'Steph?' Chris repeated, forcing her to look at him. 'You're going to be just fine, okay?'

She looked at him, her eyes wide and filling with tears. 'I'm bleeding…'

*

'I am going to kill that asshole, if it's the last thing I do!' Chris vowed, angrily pacing across the room.

'Look, you need to calm down,' Benoit said. 'Focus on tonight's match.'

During the break, a furious Regal had made the main event for that night a five-on-two handicap match. Chris/Benoit vs RTC/Regal. And his title match at Fully Loaded to an Iron Man Match.

He took a deep breath, trying to listen to the other man's advice. 'I just…' He shook his head. 'I can't stop thinking about what happened out there to her. There was so much blood…'

'So much blood' was an understatement. Stephanie's face had been a crimson mask, and she had fainted from having lost so much, needing to be taken to the nearest hospital to get checked out.

'She's going to be just fine,' Benoit assured him, his tone not changing. Sometimes, he really was Mr Roboto. 'Lita will make sure she's taken care of, and besides, she's a Mc-'

'Don't even say it,' he warned, sick of hearing that name.

'Look, just concentrate on our match, and I'll drive you to the hospital to see her if I must. Deal?'

Chris hesitated. He really didn't care about the match, but since he was sharing a hired car with the Hardyz, Benoit's offer was pretty tempting. 'Okay, fine. Deal. Right after the match?'

'Straight after.'

He knew that the thought of seeing Stephanie later, making sure she was going to be just fine, would be enough to get him through the next half hour.

[ Part Six ]